Insensitive Bocchi-kun ~Reluctantly Heading to School Today~ [Dropped] - Chapter 35: Making Accessories

Chapter 35: Making Accessories

After having lunch, I was making accessories in a certain workshop…

The afternoon schedule of the first day of the school trip was optional.

Some people enjoyed rafting, while others enjoyed paragliding, mountain biking, jam making, and so on.

There were various options, but it depended on each person.

By the way, there were only about ten people, including me, who chose to make accessories.

It went according to plan. Making accessories can be experienced quietly alone, and it’s not that popular, as expected.

There are no noisy people, so it’s the best environment.

If I had to complain a little, it would be that I’m the only guy here.

But it’s much better than having noisy people around.

I’m not criticizing anyone.

Honestly, this situation is within my expectations, and there’s no problem at all.

Rather, this accessory making is a brief moment of tranquility for me.

My heart feels at ease.

There were various things even at the zoo…

I never expected to wander around the zoo with Yamamoto, just the two of us…

When I recall the events with her, my heart still beats faster.

After that, as usual, I switched from contacts to glasses, lowered my bangs, and returned to the meeting place normally.

The ones who ditched me also joined up with me as if nothing happened, and we took attendance together.

There was no conversation there.

I think it’s pretty bad in its own way, but I can’t say anything about it.

Well, honestly, I don’t really care about that anymore… but since then, I haven’t been able to look at her face directly.

Just remembering her face makes my heart go crazy.

What’s wrong with me?

Even now, I can’t calm down.

This is really bad…

While thinking about such things, I hear German coming from ahead.

“Mamiya-kun! We’re finally together!”

That’s right. Right in front of me, Alice is sitting with a bright smile.

For some reason, when she found out I chose to make accessories, she decided to join me.

If you choose to make accessories, then I’ll definitely choose it too. That’s what she said.

“By the way, were you okay this morning?”

“Yes! It was tough, but I’m completely fine now. I’m really glad.”

Alice says while fluttering her legs happily.

If she looks this energetic, then she must be alright.

I’m glad…

“Thank you for worrying about me. I’m really sorry for always causing you trouble, Mamiya-kun.”

“It’s not a problem.”

It really isn’t.

“But, I’m really grateful to you, Mamiya-kun. Thanks to you teaching me, I’ve been able to have proper conversations with Yamamoto-san and a few others little by little. It’s something I couldn’t imagine back at my previous school! I’ve started to enjoy going to school.”

Is that so…

“It’s all thanks to you!”

Alice smiles brightly as she expresses her gratitude.

That’s good.

It seems like she has surpassed me…

I feel pathetic, but…

“That’s because Alice is working hard every day.”

There’s no other explanation…

Alice is diligently studying Japanese every day.

She’s also adjusting to daily life in an unfamiliar foreign land. That’s impressive.

“No, it’s all thanks to you, Mamiya-kun. It’s all because you were there for me…”

I hear Alice’s voice in my ears once again.

It may be too exaggerated, but… well, it doesn’t make me feel bad.

It’s really too exaggerated, though.

While thinking that it’s not true, I shift my gaze from the half-finished accessory to her. For some reason, Alice blushes and looks up at me with a shy gaze.

Huh…?

She doesn’t take her eyes off me for some reason.

I quickly return my focus to the accessory.

Today, I’m definitely acting strange.

I’m becoming sensitive to people’s gazes and words, and it seems like my heartbeat is getting faster.

I can’t control myself…

What’s with her expression just now?

For now, I intend to clear my mind and concentrate on making the accessory.

“You’re quite skilled, aren’t you?”

Suddenly, another woman’s voice comes from above me.

Huh?

When I look up, the helpful advisor instructor is there, ready to assist me when I’m in trouble.

I’m just following the instructions and adding various decorations to make a cross-shaped necklace.

I think it’s normal.

“Wow, that’s at a level where you could make money. And a decent amount, too. If it’s being sold, I’d want it myself.”

The instructor continues to exaggerate.

While thinking that it’s really exaggerated, I look at the works of other people… Indeed, there is something different about my accessory compared to others.

Could it be that I’m actually good at this…?

“Maybe you’ll give it to someone you love? I’m sure they’ll be quite pleased.”

As I ponder such thoughts, the instructor in front of me teases me with a smirk.

I don’t have anyone important as a loner…

“How nice…”

Huh?

Where did that come from…?

I hear an incredibly soft voice.

Is it Alice’s voice?

However, when I turn towards the voice, Alice seems to be absorbed in her work.

In the end, I can’t tell whose voice it was.

Well, it doesn’t matter…

And so, I continue to work diligently, and before I know it, the time for making accessories has flown by.

Now, I’m quietly cleaning up the scattered trash and debris.

Then, suddenly, someone grabs my sleeve.

When I look up, there’s Alice.

Huh?

“Are you planning to give that necklace to someone, Mamiya-kun?”

In front of me, she speaks with a serious yet slightly anxious expression.

I don’t quite understand the meaning of her question… But there’s no one I would normally give the accessory to.

“Well, I don’t have anyone to give it to.”

I reply to her with the same answer.

“I-Is that so…”

Then, in front of me, Alice blushes and seems flustered.

I can’t quite describe the emotion I feel towards her.

It’s an unfamiliar feeling even to myself.

For some reason, my heart starts to flutter.

And a few seconds later, without thinking, my mouth opens on its own accord.

“If you’d like, would you… want this?”

Immediately, I regret what I did, as it was completely out of character for me.

I got carried away by the instructor’s flattery, but there’s no reason for her to want an accessory made by me.

With trepidation, I gaze at Alice’s face in front of me.

Huh…?

“I’m so happy!! I’m happy to receive a gift from Mamiya-kun!”

Surprisingly, she seems delighted, and that scene unfolds before my eyes.

”I will cherish it forever! It will be a lifelong treasure!”

I hear her words, but it’s a bit too exaggerated.

It’s just a necklace made by an amateur like me, so she’s overjoyed.

And as I was about to reach out to give her the necklace…

“Mamiya-kun, I-I want you to put it…”

Once again, Alice opens her mouth and speaks to me.

“What?”

I ask, not quite understanding.

“I-I mean, I want you to put it on me…”

In front of me, she blushes so much that her face turns bright red.

I truly am acting strange today…

And my body feels hot again.

Perhaps my physical condition wasn’t good to begin with today.

Breathing becomes difficult.

I don’t quite understand…

“You don’t want to…?”

Then, Alice gazes at me with moist eyes and an upward glance.

It’s not that it’s no good, but my palpitations are still abnormal.

If anything, her expression is only making it worse.

Phew…

Since I didn’t really have the intention of giving it to someone, I desperately calmed my mind and gently turned the necklace around her neck.

During that moment, our faces draw closer, but I can’t see her face at all anymore.

For an instant, I muster the courage to shift my gaze to her, and there, Alice has an even redder face and her eyes are stumbling.

My hand seems to be trembling, and it’s really bad…

While all this is happening, I finish putting the necklace around her neck.

“Thank you, M-Mamiya-kun. I-I’m really happy.”

She thanks me with a red face and once again, with an upward glance, but this time in Japanese.

“Y-yeah…”

And in front of me, Alice tightly grasps the cross I made with her delicate hands, treating it as something precious.

Seeing that scene, my brain feels hot…

In the end, with all that’s happened, the accessory-making experience comes to a close, and we join the rest of the classmates.

Then, after a while, I see Alice surrounded by several girls, enjoying herself.

“Alice-chan, this necklace is too cute!”

“Wow, it’s so nice! I seriously want an accessory like this.”

“What happened, Alice-chan? Where did you get this necklace?”

The girls are praising the necklace I made…

It’s honestly embarrassing.

As I’m thinking that, a few seconds later…

“I received this from someone very special to me.”

Alice’s words reach my ears…

And there she is, blushing.

It’s really… hot.

I’m definitely feeling strange today…